mederma
Mederma is a topical product used to improve scar appearance. It is a gel based on an onion extract. Mederma is product of HRA Pharma, a division of Perrigo. A Mederma marketing claim is that the product can can make scars "softer, smoother, and less noticeable".{{cite web |title=All product Frequently Asked Questions: Does Mederma scar products make scars disappear? |url=https://www.mederma.com/advice/ |website=Mederma.com |access-date=March 19, 2023 |quote=No product can make scars disappear completely. But Mederma can help them appear softer, smoother, and less noticeable.}}
Ownership
The Mederma brand was owned by Merz Pharma for over 20 years until its 2019 sale to HRA Pharma.{{cite web |title=HRA Pharma To Acquire the Mederma Brand from Merz |url=https://www.merz.com/blog/news/hra-pharma-acquire-mederma-brand-merz/ |website=Merz.com |access-date=March 19, 2023}} Perrigo then acquired HRA Pharma as a subsidiary in 2021.{{cite web |title=Perrigo to Acquire Leading Consumer Self-Care Company, HRA Pharma |url=https://investor.perrigo.com/2021-09-08-Perrigo-to-Acquire-Leading-Consumer-Self-Care-Company,-HRA-Pharma |website=Perrigo.com |access-date=March 19, 2023}}
Effectiveness
A 1999 pilot trial found an onion extract gel less effective than the petrolatum.{{cite journal |vauthors=Jackson BA, Shelton AJ |title=Pilot study evaluating topical onion extract as treatment for postsurgical scars |journal=Dermatol Surg |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=267–9 |date=April 1999 |pmid=10417579 |doi= 10.1046/j.1524-4725.1999.08240.x}}
A 2002 study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery examined the effectiveness of Mederma on hypertrophic scars on rabbit ears. It found no significant reduction in the size, height, or inflammation of scars. The only improvement was dermal collagen organization when compared to scars that were not treated with Mederma, thus suggesting that it may have a positive effect on the formation of raised scars.{{cite journal |author1=Saulis, Alexandrina S. M.D. |author2=Mogford, Jon H. |author3=Mustoe, Thomas A. M.D. | title=Effect of Mederma on Hypertrophic Scarring in the Rabbit Ear Model | journal=Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery | volume=110 | issue=1 | pages=177–183 | year=2002 | pmid=12087249 | doi=10.1097/00006534-200207000-00029}}
A 2006 clinical trial found no statistically significant change in hypertrophic scar appearance from products of this type compared to the standard petrolatum emollient.{{cite journal |vauthors=Chung VQ, Kelley L, Marra D, Jiang SB |title=Onion extract gel versus petrolatum emollient on new surgical scars: prospective double-blinded study |journal=Dermatol Surg |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=193–7 |date=February 2006 |pmid=16442038 |doi=10.1111/j.1524-4725.2006.32045.x }}
According to a 2011 Los Angeles Times article, "there were just two randomized comparison trials of Mederma, with a combined total of 38 participants. Neither trial found that Mederma improved the appearance of scars more than petroleum jelly".{{cite news |last1=Delude |first1=Cathryn |title=Do scar remedies really work? |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-apr-17-la-he-scars-20110417-story.html |access-date=March 19, 2023 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=April 17, 2011}}
Ingredients
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Water (purified), PEG 200, alcohol, xanthan gum, allium cepa (onion) bulb extract, lecithin, methylparaben, sorbic acid, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate, fragrance